Kennedy Signs Reds Extension

17 January 2013 01:39

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Full-back signs 'til the end of the season

Full-back Tom Kennedy has signed a six month contract extension to stay with the Reds until the end of the season.

27-year-old Kennedy joined Barnsley in late September on a short-term deal until January, and made four appearances until falling out of favour with former boss Keith Hill, but his role has been galvanised since Hill's departure.

He has started every game under the caretaker charge of David Flitcroft, and now that Hill's right hand man has been handed the permanent job, Kennedy has pledged his short-term future to the Reds.

Meanwhile, Flitcroft believes the club's idea to reduce matchday ticket prices is a good idea to lure the stay-away fans back to Oakwell.

A much-maligned £28 a ticket has seen attendances at Oakwell plummet this season, with gates rarely getting above 10,000. This has seen fans stay away, but the club is hoping that reducing the prices by a fiver will see more fans attracted back to Oakwell.

Flitcroft has also said that a more "upbeat-tempo" style of football, coupled with the slashing of ticket prices, should bring the former faithful back. He said:

"It's really important that the club get behind what the fans want, I understand now having watched games for the last 18 months in this stadium that even though it's about results, the supporters want to see a more upbeat-tempo type of football.

"That's something that we're going to work hard to give them. Once the fans connect with the players at this football club and we can create the kind of atmosphere I saw on Saturday and to some degree against Burnley, then that will get people talking about what's going on inside this stadium.

"Hopefully by reducing ticket prices it will help to get people in, but it's got to be a two-way thing. It's no good getting people in to your restaurant if your food's poor.

"The club's made a massive commitment to get people in and it's our duty now to give them the type of football that they want to see."